MDCH TASK FORCE ON NURSING EDUCATION Purpose Overview and Charge

Contact: Jeanette Klemczak 241 9841

Agency: Community Health

Michigan Department of Community Health Task Force on Nursing Education

[MDCH - TFNE]

Purpose and Charge

Rationale

The health and safety of Michigan residents require that nursing standards, nursing education, and appropriate scope of nursing practice be strengthened. The Nursing Agenda for Michigan includes action steps to address the nursing shortage and strengthen the nursing profession through changes in nursing education and credentials, enhanced standards of practice, and appropriate regulation. Michigan must maintain high quality health care, educating high quality nurses and increasing the nursing workforce. [See The Nursing Agenda for Michigan, 2006.] Two collaborative groups will be convened to address issues related to the education of licensed nurses: the MDCH Task Force on Nursing Education (MDCH-TFNE); and the MDCH-TFNE Stakeholder Council.

MDCH Task Force on Nursing Education

- Convene a Task Force on Nursing Education (TFNE) composed of representatives of nursing education programs at all levels, professional nursing practice organizations, plus representatives from the Michigan State Board of Nursing and others.

- Charge the TFNE to make recommendations to the Director of MDCH regarding needed changes in statutes, rules, and policies in order to enhance the education of licensed nurses and expand the capacity of the nursing education system in Michigan, thereby protecting the health and safety of Michigan residents.

- Activities: TFNE shall engage in appropriate information gathering; refer to national standards and best practices for nursing education and education capacity-building; take into account the input of the TFNE Stakeholder Council, conduct deliberations; and promulgate recommendations to address the issues.

1. Review and recommend innovations and improvements to nursing education programs and education system capacity, with emphasis on high-quality patient-centered care, evidence-based care, preventive care and national models; include issues referred to the TFNE by the 2007 Michigan Task Force on Nursing Regulation. Identify additional nursing education issues as appropriate.

2. Identify changes needed in nursing education, the Public Health Code and related rules and regulations, plus nursing standards and nursing credentials, to implement the recommendations made. Recommend these changes to appropriate entities in State Government; nursing education, and higher education; and - with the assistance of the MDCH-TFNE Stakeholder Council -- support the realization and implementation of the recommended changes.

3. Recommend the implementation of mechanisms to ensure continuing five-year review of the recommendations made and the corresponding changes in nursing education, the Public Health Code and related rules and regulations; and - with the assistance of the MDCH-TFNE Stakeholder Council -- support the realization and implementation of such mechanisms.

4. Recommend mechanisms for informing nurse employers, nurses, other health professionals and the public on changes in nursing education, credentials, regulations, and standards.

Rationale

The health and safety of Michigan residents require that nursing standards, nursing education, and appropriate scope of nursing practice be strengthened. The Nursing Agenda for Michigan includes action steps to address the nursing shortage and strengthen the nursing profession through changes in nursing education and credentials, enhanced standards of practice, and appropriate regulation. Michigan must maintain high quality health care, educating high quality nurses and increasing the nursing workforce. [See The Nursing Agenda for Michigan, 2006.] Two collaborative groups will be convened to address issues related to the education of licensed nurses: the MDCH Task Force on Nursing Education (MDCH-TFNE); and the MDCH-TFNE Stakeholder Council.

- Convene an MDCH-TFNE Stakeholder Council composed of representatives of nurse employers (healthcare providers), healthcare purchasers, healthcare payers, and healthcare consumers.

- Charge the MDCH-TFNE Stakeholder Council to provide input from the constituencies represented concerning nursing education issues taken up by the TFNE, and counsel concerning the implementation of TFNE recommendations.